Daily Reading // Isaiah 11:1-16
READY // SILENCIO
Take a moment to quiet your mind and prepare your heart for your time with the Lord.
READ // LECTIO
Read the passage above up to three times aloud. Allow yourself to feel the words as they are read.
REFLECT // MEDITATIO
Now direct your focus on the words, phrases concepts or sentences that got your attention. What is God speaking to you today through His word?
Isaiah 11:2-4 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 3 His delight [is] in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
These verses are talking about Jesus. First of all, it says the fear of the LORD is His delight. You normally don’t think of fear as a delight. This is no normal ‘fear’.
Also, it says He won’t judge by His eyes or His ears. Interesting. Why? Because they can be fooled so easily. We know that all too well today. Our representation of ‘Justice’ is blindfolded for the same reason. Those who are wise know their own senses can be fooled. Those who are foolish trust their own senses and judgement 100%. They pick their side and then belittle those who have chosen the other side.
If judgement will not be with His eyes or ears, then how will He judge? By righteousness and by the Word of His mouth. His word is unchanging truth. Righteousness is the standard of living, no matter what side of an issue you are on. I have seen people, through this pandemic, find the argument and data they like to form their desired opinion and then, in the cause of proving themselves right, speak to others in an unrighteous way. Don’t you see that righteousness, not right-ness, is the most important thing? Always choose righteousness over right-ness. (You’re really not as right as you think you are.)
RESPOND // ORATIO
Pray in response to what the Lord has spoken to you.
Jesus, Give me Your compassion. When You were on earth, You could have ended every argument. You put up with people who were wrong so that you could love and minister to them. Help me to learn from You.
Tomorrow’s reading -> Isaiah 12:1-6